Mark Marquez believed he could have challenged the 2024 MotoGP Championship on a factory bike.
Marquez replaced a Sub-Par Honda machine last year for a Ducati a year ago, brilliantly rejuvenating his career.
He went back to winning ways and did enough to win him to earn a promotion to Ducati factory team.
However, he couldn’t keep up with Martin and Pecco Bagnaia, who fought for the title on equal machines until the final day.
Mark Marquez Alley reveals his early Ducati feelings
“Gigi Dall’igna did a lot with Ducati, Stefan Bradl, a Honda test rider who previously worked with Marquez.
“Last year at GP24, he brought a significantly improved version of GP23 to the truck.
“This bike once again provided a significant technical boost.
“Mark last year said that with his 2024 factory bikes at his disposal, he could run to Pecco and Jorge Martin for money, which he understood very quickly.
“Currently, in the factory team, all the doors are open for him.
“Gigi is a Mark’s fan, and the technicians and riders speak a common language. They are an incredible duo that has reached a higher level thanks to this close collaboration.
“It’s the kind of combination that existed in Ferrari between Michael Schumacher and Ross Brown or Jean Todd.”
Dall’igna has broken the recent Ducati philosophy of promoting talent to steal Marquez for the factory team.
That faith has already been justified – even if it meant losing Martin and Marco Betzecchi to Aprilia and Bastianini to KTM.